A lifting device includes a base, a mast coupled to the base, a carriage coupled to the mast, and a lifting assembly configured to move the mast and carriage in a first direction to a desired elevation relative to the base. The lifting device includes an electric motor, a battery pack for providing electrical power to the electric motor and a spool with a cable to alternately raise and lower the carriage in the first direction. The lifting device includes means for detecting a weight and/or a center of gravity of a load to be lifted by the lifting device, and a user interface operable to communicate information about the weight and/or the center of gravity of the load to a user of the lifting device.